Latch



Feb. 18, 1941. E. w. NORTH ETAL LATCH Filed May 5, 1959 INVENTORS M r/f/e ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 18, 1941 r'uru'rgp fsTATES LATCH Edwin W. North and William 0. Burke, Rockford, Ill., assignors to National Lock Co., Rockford, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Applicatmn May 5, 1939, 'serial No. 271,854

`6 Claims.

'I'hls invention relates to improvements in latches, particularly those of the slam-shut varity adapted for use on refrigerator doors and the like. y .i

One of the principal objects of the invention is the provision of improved lever mechanism for operatively interconnecting a `reciprocable bolt and a handle member.`

Another o bJ'ect is the provision of improved intermediate lever' mechanism having impositive operative connection with a handle so that the bolt and associated parts may move without causing the handle to move when the bolt reciprocates responsive to slamming the door shut. g Another object is the arrangement of a number of operating levers in pivotal connection to effeci.,retraction-of the bolt in a particular manner, one of the levers being impositively connected with a handle by means also operative to keep said lever in a certain position of alignment for proper coaction both with the handle and the other levers.

Other objects, advantages and novel aspects oi the invention reside in certain details of construction as well as the arrangement of parts and the mode oi operation thereof in the illus` trative embodiment described in view of the annexed drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a horizontal section through the improved latch and part or 'a refrigerator door; Fig. 2 is a verticalhsection along line 2--2 01mg. 1^: i Fig.'3 is a rspec ve detailY of the intermedlate lever mechanism;` K

Fig. 4`is a fragmentary vertical section through `the handle structure looking inthe direction of line l-l of Fig. 2;'` V

Fig. 5 is another fragmen v, ry vertical section looking in the direction of line 5--5 of Fig. 2.

The improvements disclosed herein are in continuation of certain improvements set forth and claimed in our copendingapplicaton, Seral No. 271,853, filed of even dateherewith, and which relate particularly tothe arrangement ofan intermediate operating lever and a link connectingthe same with a bolt, so'that the link moves almost in parallelism with theY bolt, the intermediate lever being operated by a plunger bearing against the same in a direction almost normal to the line of reciprocation of the jbolt and link.

The present invention relates more particularly to means for impositivelyconnecting a handle with the intermediate lever.` In the arrangement ofl'ig.l 1,'tlie latch struc# ture includes a housing bracketi attached in a suitable recess to a refrigerator door II. Mounted for reciprocable movement in the bracket I0 is a bolt structure I2. The bolt proper rides between a roller I3 and a wall portion I4 of the bracket, while the` opposite end of the 5,. structure is guided by a pin I5 anchored in the bracket and projecting through an elongated slot I 6 in parallel strap projections I l flanking the bolt and` constituting a rigid part of the bolt structure. A compression spring I8 normally 10 urges the. bolt into latched position.

Mounted within the bracket is an intermediate operating lever 20 in the form of a metal strap bent backupon itself with opposite triangularly shaped Wall portions joined by an intermediate 15 bight or wall portion 2|. This lever is mounted for pivotal movement on a pin 22, so that one of its ends 23 may oscillate in an arc in the plane of reciprocation of the bolt and which arc is tangenttoa line which is substantially in paralle'i- 20 ism with the direction of reciprocation, of the bolt.

The bolt and intermediate operating lever are interconnected `by an elongated rigid link 24 which is pivotally attached at one end by pin 25 means25 secured in the end 23 of the interme-l diate operating lever, and at its opposite end by pin means 26 anchored in ear portions 2l of the parallel straps Il flanking the bolt.

The structure thus far described, that is to say, 30 the reciprocable boltmeans and the intermediate operating lever 20 connected by the strap 24 with the bolt as set forth, constitutes a part of the improvement claimed in the aforementioned copending application which, perl se, is not' 35 claimed herein. This arrangement is such that when the intermediate lever 20 is pivoted (clockwise Fig. l) from its normal position into which it is urged by action of the spring I8, the link 24 will move with very little pivotal displacement 40 relative to either the boltor the intermediate operating lever, and such displacement as there is, is calculated to average out in a resultant path of movement of the link which will be nearlyin parallelism with the linear reciprocation of the 45 bolt so that the average pull of the link will be exerted in an almost straight line throughout the retractive movement of the bolt. The advantage of this arrangement is obvious, in that it provides a more constant load for the handle and 50` maintains almost the same leverage ratios or mechanical advantage in the lever system, particularly as to the link 24, for retracting the bolt. The particular feature of the present invention relates particularly to the means for imf 55 positively connecting an operating handle with the intermediate operating lever 2li. As depicted in Figs. l and 2 particularly, the aforesaid latch is intended to cooperate with a handle structure which includes a channel-shaped mounting bracket 30 having opposite side walls 3i between which extends a pivot pin or pintle y 32 upon which is pivoted a handle 33. The handle is preferably constructed by stamping so as to be hollow with its pivoted end portion open, and, as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 particularly, there is mounted in the open end a stamped bearing plate 34 provided with opposite upset ears 35 tted onto the pintle. 32. A spring 36 is coiled around the pintle with its ends bearing respectively against the stamping 34 and the bottom of the bracket 30 so as to pivot the handle into a normal position. The mounting bracket 30 for the handle is attached to the door in any suitable manner, preferably by means of screws 3l which thread into the mounting plate 38 of the latch.

Means operatively but impositively interconnecting the handle with the intermediate operating lever 20, includes a stud arm 40 pivotally attached by a pin 4I extended transversely through an end thereof for anchorage in the opposite surface portions of the lever 20 (Fig. 3). An opposite end of the stud is reduced to provide a shoulder 42 from which projects coaxially a pin portion 43. In assembled relation with the handle structure. the stud 40 passes loosely through a wide hold 45 in parts 30 and 38 and the pin 43 projects through an opening 44 in a part of the bearing stamping 34 which is disposed eccentrically of the pivotal axis 32 of the handle.

The handle structure is so mounted with respect to the latch that the pin portion 43 pro'- jecting through the opening 44 in the bearing member in the end of the handle, will align the stud 40 in a predetermined operating position relative to the rest of the latch operating mechanism and particularly the intermediate operating lever 2U, in themanner illustrated substantially in Fig. 1. In other terms, the handle may move relative to the stud 40 or the stud may reciprocate relative to the handle, but the stud will nevertheless be in proper alignment relative to the lever 20.

In operation, referring iirst to Fig. 2, the handie 33 may be pulled downwardly (clockwise) to rock on the pivot 32, thus causing the eccentrically situated part of the bearing stamping 34 to bear against the shoulder 42 on the stud 40, whereupon (Fig. l) the stud will transmit motion through its connecting pin 4| into the intermediate lever 20, thus rocking the latter about its pivot 22 so as to retract the link 24 and hence withdraw the bolt structure I2 from latched position.

Assuming that the door Il is slammed shut with the latch bolt in normally latched position, the cammed nose portion of the bolt and keep er, as is usual in this type of latch, will cam the bolt into nlatched position against the tension of the spring I3, and as a consequence the link 24 and the lever 20 will be moved, as will be the stud 40, but this motion will not be transmitted to the handle because of the impositive operative association afforded by the means 42-43-44 so that the handle will not be moved, the latter -being an obvious advantage commonly sought in this class of latch.

The invention in its broader aspects, therefore, provides an operative connection between a handle and an intermediate bolt operating leverage system, wherein the eii'ort of the handle is transmitted always in a certain direction to the intermediate lever system, although the said lever system and-the bolt associated therewith may nevertheless move in one direction independently of the handle. This-invention is not to be restricted to any of the yprecisely described features of construction referred to for the purpose of characterizing a preferred embodiment of the invention except as may be provided in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is: Y,

1. A latch having, in combination, a reciprocable bolt, lever mechanism operatively linked with the bolt for reciprocation thereof, a rocking handle structure and impositive connecting means in the form of an elongated member piv- I otally connected near one of its ends with said lever mechanism and having'a reduced portion at its opposite end providing a pin and shoulder, said pin extending through an opening in a part of said handle structure, said part bearing against said shoulder when the handle structure is rocked in a certain direction to move the elongated member and said lever mechanism to effect retraction of said bolt.

2. In a latch structure of the type which includes a substantially linearly reciproca'ble bolt, a pivoted intermediate operating lever, a, rigid link pivotally connected to said bolt and intermed'iate operating lever and arranged to move along a resultant path which is .substantially in parallelism with the line of reciprocation of the bol-t when the intermediate operating lever is pivoted, operating mechanism comprising a stud member pivotally connected near one of its ends to said intermediate operating lever for reciprocable movement in a direction approximately at right angles to the direction of said line of reciprocation of the bolt to pivot said intermediate lever and eiIect movement of .the bolt, and a handle structure arranged to rock in the direct'lon of reciprocation of said stud member, said handle structure having a part with an opening situated eocentrically of the rocking axis of the handle structure in alignment with the opposite end of said stud member. said opposite end being reduced to provide an axially extending pin with a shoulder, said pin extending into said opening in the handle part for bearing engagement of the latter against said shoulder when the handle is rocked in a certain direction .to move the bolt, said stud member being maintained'in alignment for reciproca'ble movement as aforesaid by engagement in saidopening in the handle part.

3. In a latch, the combination with an approximately linearly reciprocaible latch bolt and intermediate lever mechanism for reciprocating the same by application of forces applied to said intermediate lever mechanism in a direction which is approximately normal to the line of reciproca-tion of the bolt, of operating means including: a handle structure arranged to rock in said normal direction and impositive connecting means in the form of an elongated member having pivotal connection at one of its ends with said intermediate lever mechanism and having coaxially aligned pin and slot connection at its opposite end with a part of said handle structure which is eccentric of Athe rocking axis there of, whereby said elongated member will be maintained in alignment for movement in said normal direction responsive to or independently of rocking movement of the handle structure. 4. In a latch ot the class described including a rocking handle and an operating lever arranged for oscillation responsive to rocking movement oi' the handle. impositive connecting means including: a stud having pivotal connection near one of its ends with said lever and having coaidaily aligned pin and slot engagement at its opposite end with a part of the handle disposed eccentrically of the rocking axis thereof. whereby said stud is aligned for reciprocabie movement in the direction of rocking movement of the handle and can be moved independently oi said handle or by rocking movement of said handle in a particular direction.

5. In a latch, -a bolt arranged to move back and forth in approximately linear motion, an operating element mounted to move in a direc tion toward .the line of movement of the bolt. an intermediate lever mounted to rock about an axis extending in a direction transversely to the movement oi' the bolt and at one side thereof and pivotally connected with said operating element and a straight link, the pivotal axis of said link being parallel with the pivotal axis of said intermediate lever, said link being pivotally connected with said bolt at one side thereof and dis posed to move approximately in the direction of movement of the |bolt responsive to rocking said intermediate lever, .thel pivotal axes of the link with respect to the boit and of the intermedi- :ate lever with respect. to the pivotal axes of the link and said operating element being each disfposed with respect to the other so as to minilmize the pivotal displacement of the link in movementsoi the boit as aforesaid, whereby to maintain an approximately constant leverage ra- .;,tio between -the connections of the link with .the boit and intermediate lever during movements ofthe .bolt by action o! said lever.

6. In a latch, in combination, a bolt mounted for movement back and forth in an approximate- ,ly straight line, a link pivotally attached at one side of the bolt with its pivotal aids disposed in a piane approximately parallel to the direction of movement ot the bolt. an intermediate lever mounted at one side of the bolt to rock about an axis parallel with the pivotal connection of said link to the bolt, said intermediate lever being pivotally connected to an end of said link opposite the connection of the latter to the bolt at a point on the intermediate lever away from the rocking axis thereof toward the bol-t, and means .-.for applying an operating force to said intermediate lever at a point thereon spaced from its rocking axis in triangular relationship to the pivotal connection oi the intermediate lever with .'said link whereby to move said intermedi-ate ie- .;ver with a consequent movement oi' said bolt and a minimum pivotal displacement of said link with respect to the bolt and intermediate lever.

nnwm w.' from. wnmau o. BURKE. 

